UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Rocky Point

Observer Name
Kobernik - Hardesty
Observation Date
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Avalanche Date
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Rocky Point
Location Name or Route
Rocky Point
Elevation
10,400'
Aspect
Northeast
Trigger
Skier
Trigger: additional info
Intentionally Triggered
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
New Snow
Weak Layer
New Snow
Depth
8"
Width
60'
Vertical
300'
Comments

The avalanche danger was increasing but wasn't 'hair trigger' yet. Instability within the new snow was the most pronounced problem with mostly small pockets except this slightly larger one we were able to trigger in the higher more windy terrain which had the most new snow loading occurring. The older faceted snow from October is now buried and easy to identify but it was not reactive yet by the time we left around 3:30pm. We felt that we were a bit early to experience the peak of instability with this storm. It certainly is possible the weaker October basal facets could become reactive with additional and especially continued wind.

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Coordinates